Collapsible drain basket



' Dec. 8, 1931. H. v. G. sTocKER coLLAPsIBLE DRAIN BASKET Filed July 1930 2 sheets-sheet El E 5 RK 3 2 oc Ed T0 5 t 3 v5 8, a ma a.. .N e l B T vl 2 n. n T m R M m B m C m l Q {.P 8 T \Q E w ww G m v. n .m A .l H m u O C ,v M s. mv. C v s, c. IIL |\\lv 1 .rx

ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITE STATES HATTIE V. Gr. STOGKER, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE DRAIN BASKET Application filed July 8,1930. Serial No. 456,476.

This invention relates to drain baskets and has for its object certain improvements in drain baskets. The invention relates more particularly to collapsible drain baskets.

Drain baskets of various designs have heretofore been proposed and employed. They consist for the most part of a latticelike structure that adapts them for the draining of liquids and the like. Tt is not uncommon for the bottom and Walls, and even partitions, to be constructed of Wire meshing. For'purposes of convenience, drain baskets employed for draining dishes after they have been Washed may be considered. They are generally rectangularly shaped, being provided with a bottom, side Walls and end Walls, and usually a plurality of dividing or partition Walls extending laterally or transversely across the basket. A special compartment or receptacle is usually located at one end of the basket, which is especially adapted for receiving cutlery. This compartment is generally constructed of finer mesh so that knives and forks and spoons may not drop therethrough. 'lVashed dishes are placed in the compartments deiined by the separating walls or partitions. This type of draining device is rigidly constructed, at least to the extent that the Walls surrounding the basket are unmovably attached to the bottom portion. Drain baskets of this type vary in size, it not being uncommon for the Walls to rise to a height of 6 to 12 inches.

The drain baskets above described and heretofore employed, While serving a very useful purpose, are often regarded as highly objectionable because they take up considerable space. This is particularly true in more populous centers, Where many people are compelled to live in very small apartments, Where space is at a premium. Because of the space occupied by the usual draining baskets, many people, particularly housewives, are apt to do Without them.

As a result of my investigation of this problem, I have determined that a drain basket may be constructed that avoids to a large extent the objections held against the use of the usual type of drain basket on the market. This new drain basket may be so yin Fig. 1, in the open position, and particuconstructed that it serves the function of the type heretofore employed, but in addition it may be eollapsibly compressed into a relatively small space; Which peculiarly lits it for use in apartments, or Wherever it is desired to save space.

The present invention accordingly contemplates a drain basket comprising a rectangularly shaped device having a bottom, side and end Walls, the side and end Walls being collapsible so that they may be made to rest on or near the bottom of the device. In accordance With the practice of the present invention, the drain device may advantageously be constructed of the same type of porous or lattice-Work materials generally employed for devices of this general type. For example, the device may be wholly constructed of spaced Wires; or Wire meshing of suitable size may be employed. If desired, stiffening members may be employed in order to give the device or basket adequate rigidity.

In constructing a drain basket according to the present invention, the side and end Walls are appropriately hinged or otherwise made movable, so that all of the Walls may be collapsed to rest on or near the bottom of the device. Appropriate means are provided for looking the device When it is in the open position. When locked in this manner, the basket may be safely handled Without fear of the basket collapsing. Locking means are also preferably provided for keeping the collapsed device in the closed position. Special means may also advanta- 85 geously be provided at an appropriate place to permit the hanging-up of the basket when not in use.

T he various features of the present invention will undoubtedly be better understood if reference is made to the att-ached drawings, taken in conjunction with the following description, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective vieW of a collapsible drain basket illustrative of the invention, the basket being shovvn in a collapsed or closed position;

Fig. 2 is a plan section of the device shown larly with respect to the section line 2-2 of Fig. 4

Fig. 3 is an end sectional. elevation of the device in the open position, on the section line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of the device in the open position;

Fig. 5 is a part side sectional elevation showing the device in both the open and closed position; and

Fig. 6 is a part end sectional elevation showing the device in both the open and closed position.

Referring more iarticularly to Fig. 2, the device consists of a bottom l0, end walls ll and l2, and side walls 13 and 14. The bottom portion consists of a plurality of spaced longitudinal metallic strips l5 permanently attached to, as by riveting, a plurality of spaced lateral metallic strips i6. These metallic strips are spaced in such manner as to provide adequate space for draining, while at the saine time giving the bottom adequate rigidity. Moreover, the open spaces provided by the longitudinal and lateral metallic strips should be sufiiciently small to prevent the falling through of articles placed thereon for draining purposes.

In order to observe the construction of the end walls, reference should be made to Fig. 3; which shows vertically spaced wire strips 17 attached to an outer wire 1S defining the perimeter or outer boundary of the end walls. The spaced wire strips are advantageously Welded or soldered to the boundary wire.

Referring to Fig. 4, the side wall is shown to consist of vertically spaced wire strips i9 permanently attached to the wire 520 forming the perimeter or outer boundary of the side walls. The spaced wire pieces are preferably welded or soldered to the boundary wire. A handle portion 2l is preferably and symmetrically attached to side walls, and may advantageously form a continuation of the vertically spaced wire pieces.

The interior of the basket is provided with a plurality of spaced compartments 22, and preferably a special con'ipartment 23 which is adapted to receive cutlery and the like. The inner compartments are defined by spaced lateral partitions E24, constructed of vertically disposed wire strips 25 permanently attached to a surrounding wire 26 and forming the perimeter or outer boundary of they partitions. As in the case of the end and side walls, the spaced vertical wire pieces are preferably soldered or welded to the boundary wire.

Each of the end con'niartments is deined by an end wall, a center partition and sidel walls. The side walls of course help to define eachof the compartments. In the case of the end compartment adapted for the tion of cutlery, a finer mesh screen 27 is employed on the bottom and each one of the recep-y sides better to keep the cutlery from falling out of the basket.

Each one of the dividing or partition walls as well as the end walls are pivotally or movably attached to the bottom of the basket by means of cleats 28, permanently attached to side members 29 of the bottom of the basket. These cleats in substance form what may be regarded as a hinge, in which the dividing or partition walls and the end walls may freely move in the open and closed position. Side members 30 formed of a metal strip and spaced upwardly from the bottom of the device are pivotally attached to the side of the end walls and the side of each dividing or partition wall, so that when the end walls are pushed inwardly, in the closed position, all of the partition walls may simultaneously be collapsed. hether the device is heilig opened or closed, the end Walls and the dividing partitions always move simultaneously.

The side walls are likewise movably or piv otally attached to the bottom member of the basket. This result is preferably obtained by having a hinging device 3l attached to the ends of alternate lateral metallic strips forming the bottom of the device. These hinges are preferably elevated, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, so that when the end walls are first collapsed on the bottom of the basket, the side walls may in turn be moved inwardly and over the collapsed end walls, including the dividing walls or partitions.

In order to lock the device in the open position, locking means 32 are provided at or n ar each upper corner. where the side and end walls meet. This device advantageously consists of a double clasp-like device permanently attached to the side wall, the opening or space between the clasps being adapted io receive the end wall, and to hold the framework of the basket in a rigid position.

In order to keep the collapsed basket in the clorfed position, locking device 33 is preferrbly employ-ed. This device advantageously consists of a hook pivotally attached to the handle portion of one of the side walls, the hook being of a size adapted to catch the handle portion of the other side wall. Moreover, this hook advantageously hasI an eye or circular opening at its remote end, Which is :ujlaptcd to be hung on a nail or the like. The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows:

Assuming that the basket is in the open position, the side and end walls being locked close to one another by means of the clasps 32. the basket may be closed by pulling both side walls outwardly about the hii'iges 3l. The end walls are then pushed longitudinally of the basket, when'they collapse together with the dividing or partition walls. After the end walls and dividing or partition walls rest upon the bottom of the basket, both of the side walls are brought over and on top of the collapsed side walls. The locking device 33 may be used or not as desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that in the practice of the present invention a drain basket is provided that is easily collapsible, so that the basket may take up a minimum of space. A device of this character adds considerable utility, particularly over those commonly employed Jfor similar purposes.

I claim:

1. A drain basket comprising a rectangularly shaped device having a bottom and side4 and end walls, the end walls being hingedly connected to the bottom and the side walls being hingedly connected to the bottom, whereby the device may be collapsed with the end walls falling in the same general direction and the side walls Jfalling toward one another, and partitions hingedly connected t0 said bottom and spaced between and substantially parallel to said end walls.

2. A drain basket comprising a rectangu- 555 lai-ly shaped device having a bottom and side and end walls, the end walls being hingedly connected to the bottom, the side walls being hingedly connected to the bottom, and partitions hingedly connected to said bottom and spaced between and substantially parallel to the end walls, whereby the device may be collapsed with the end walls and the partitions falling in the same general direction and the side walls falling toward one another over and upon at least one of the collapsed end walls and all of the partitions.

3. A drain basket comprising a rectangularly shaped device, a bottom and side and end walls, the end walls being hingedly connected to the bottom, the side walls being hingedly connected to the bottom, and at least one rigid side member pivotally connccted at its ends to the end walls, whereby the device may be collapsed with the end walls and the rigid side member falling in the same general direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HATTIE V. Gr. STOCKER. 

